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Lecompton Historical Society

Lecompton, Kansas is the "Birthplace of the Civil War, Where Slavery Began to Die." Lecompton was the Territorial Capital of Kansas from 1855 to 1861. Nine governors called Lecompton home. The famous Lecompton Constitution was written in Constitution Hall, a National Landmark would have admitted Kansas into the Union as a slave state. The document was extensively debated in the Congress of the United States and in the office of the President of the United States. The resulting debate split the National Democratic Party in 1858 and led to four candidates for President in 1860. The split allowed Abraham Lincoln to be elected President with only 39% of the vote.

Visitors today may tour Constitution Hall and view exhibit relating to the national struggle for statehood in Kansas. They may also tour the Territorial Capital Museum, which was to be the capitol building if Kansas had come into the Union as a slave state. They will see artifacts relating to the Pre-Civil War Era. The building became Lane University and President Eisenhower's parents attended school and were married in the building.

Other sites included in the tour are Kansas Territorial Democratic Headquarters, 1892 city jail and a replica of Fort Titus. This fort was the site of the first battle between free state and pro-slavery forces in 1856 in which there were causalities.

Civil War on the Western Border: The Missouri-Kansas Conflict,1855-1865

This project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the
provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State with additional support from the William T. Kemper Foundation - Commerce Bank, Trustee